Works by purged Chinese leader Zhao published in Hong Kong

A trove of newly published documents belonging to a purged Chinese leader has been launched at Hong Kong’s book fair, despite fears Beijing is tightening freedom of expression in the city.

Book (bottom, C) containing a collection of documents by late Chinese Party chief Zhao Ziyang, newly published by the Chinese University of Hong Kong Press, along with a photo of him, displayed at the Hong Kong Book Fair

Former premier and Communist Party general secretary Zhao Ziyang was removed from China’s top political leadership after he showed sympathy for students ahead of the crackdown on their pro-democracy movement in Tiananmen Square in 1989.

He then spent 16 years under house arrest before his death in 2005.

The new book could anger Beijing and will strike a chord in Hong Kong, where some publishers have been scared off bringing out controversial titles after the disappearance of five booksellers from the city — they later resurfaced in the mainland where one is still detained. Read More